A rendering of the new VAG office in Palma de Mallorca, designed by architect, Antonio Alvarez

The new location will be the base of the crew agents Majorcan headquarters, which is now located at Santa Eulalia 7, in an area of Palma that is growing in popularity; primarily due to the history and charm of, which has caused an influx of recently renovated five-star urban hotels, restaurants and cafes.

The move from Palma’s Saint Catalina area, the Group’s location for the last 14 years, came from the brand’s recognition of client privacy.

Leticia van Allen, managing director of Van Allen Group explained, “Although we have prospered at our former office, we’ve also come to regard that many clients enjoy some degree of confidentiality when stepping in to or exiting a crew recruitment office for various reasons. The new VAG office will be fully respectful of this and our proximity to local yachting community has not changed by any significant margin.”

Van Allen continued to outline that the crew agency will remain ‘boutique’ in constitution, despite the threat of social networking on the industry. She continued, “I remain optimistic in spite of the onset of social networking websites that are now gaining momentum as a source solution for recruitment needs.

“We have come to understand that social networking is here for the long run, and that is not a negative thing. It’s become useful on many levels and all of us have nurtured this phenomenon in some way or another. The fact that this techniquewill inevitably enable more clients to connect with prospects further qualifies the reality that our industry is growing.

“We will see the ‘tried and tested’ hands on personal touch add guarantee in one corner of the spectrum, and somewhat of an experimental approach at the other. Neither camp will disappear, and Van Allen Group is here to stay. We have earned our place as a survivor in this industry and would like to take opportunity to thank our loyal client base plus newcomers to VAG

Now entering the second quarter of the year, Van Allen Group has already this year added Jayne Rother,a trainer at Dorset Castle Kitchen to their catalogue of bespoke services. Jayne has 20+ years experience as a yacht chef, and will be offering tailored training classes for yacht crew wanting to learn basic galley management and cooking skills. Van Allen states that the business is already encouraged by inquiries from captains and management companies who see fit to enhance the value of their interior staff during yard periods.